Ashfield

Ashfield's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Ashfield increased by 7.3%, from just over 111,000 to 119,000.

The addition of about 8,100 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Ashfield was home to, on average, 7.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

More single parents

This area saw the East Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

Across the region, only Blaby (from 6.7% to 9.1%) and Melton (from 6.7% to 8.6%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of single-parent households.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of single-parent households, as the regional average grew from 8.8% to 9.8%.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) households in Ashfield had a single parent, compared with 9.7% in 2001. The percentage with a married couple decreased from 41% to 35%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that that had a single parent across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Ashfield

The number of people in Ashfield that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 20,000 in 2001 to just over 40,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 18% to 34% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Ashfield that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 81,000 in 2001 to about 69,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 58%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 9,700 to just under 8,200 (from 8.7% to 6.8%).

About 430 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just under 190 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Ashfield increased by 16 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Ashfield by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Ashfield that rented privately increased from 6.1% to 13% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in six (16%) households lived in social housing, compared with 19% in 2001. The percentage of Ashfield households that owner their home decreased from 73% to 69%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Ashfield increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Ashfield, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Ashfield residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 12% to 7.2% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 63% in 2001. The percentage of Ashfield residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Ashfield decreased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Ashfield, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Ashfield working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12% to 9.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 50 (2.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.3% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Ashfield decreased by 2.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Ashfield, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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